Staff Correspondent
Owners of long-distance buses have decided not to reduce fare despite the government’s directive to cut fare by Tk 0.02 per kilometre following the reduction in fuel prices.
‘We will not reduce fare until a new government takes office after the elections,’ the Bangladesh Bus Truck Owners’ Association chairman, Golam Md Siraj, told New Age on Tuesday.
Justifying their position, he said, ‘The government has made the decision unilaterally without consulting us. It should keep in mind that we are also the stakeholders.’
‘This interim government never consulted us whenever they increased or cut bus fare. Things cannot go in this way,’ he alleged.
‘Soon after we get news of the government’s fare cut decision, leaders of the association and Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation sat in a meeting to decide next course of action,’ he said.
‘The meeting unanimously decided not to take any steps as regards of the reduction in bus fare; rather we will wait for the next elected government in this regard.’
The communications ministry in a statement on Tuesday said fare for diesel-run buses had been set at Tk 0.96 from Tk 0.98 per kilometre and fare for buses on Mawa-Paturia route through ferry terminal had been set at Tk 0.99 from Tk 1.01 per kilometre.
The statement also said fare for diesel-run minibuses had been set at Tk 0.99 from Tk 1.01 and fare for minibuses on Mawa-Paturia route through ferry terminal has been set Tk 1.02 from Tk 1.04.
The decision would come into effect soon, the statement added. The director (enforcement) of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Abdur Rouf, told New Age that they were issuing letters to the organisations concerned to immediately implement the fare cut decision.
The government on Monday cut fuel prices with effect from midnight.
The prices of diesel and kerosene came down from Tk 48 to Tk 46, petrol from Tk 78 to Tk 74, and octane from Tk 80 to Tk 77, according to a government circular.
Courtesy: newagebd.com
